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A Common Bond: Masonic Intrigues in East Texas

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A Common Bond: Masonic Intrigues in East Texas East Texas Historical Journal Volume 32 Issue 2 Article 7 10-1994 A Common Bond: Masonic Intrigues in East Texas Robert W. Kesting Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj Part of the United States History Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Recommended Citation Kesting, Robert W. (1994) "A Common Bond: Masonic Intrigues in East Texas," East Texas Historical Journal: Vol. 32 : Iss. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj/vol32/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in East Texas Historical Journal by an authorized editor of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 20 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIAnON A COMMON BOND: MASONIC INTRIGUES IN EAST TEXAS by Robert \-v. Kesting The impact of Freemasonry upon East Texas History usually begins with the arrival of Stephen F. Austin and the founcting of his colony. But deliberate Masonic penetration of the disputed Ea'\t Texas border occurred much earlier. Nevertheless, there are some available sources which suggest Freemasonry was not only a benevolent, teaching, and social organization on the western frontier, but an ardent and active political institution which secretly assisted in the demise of European domination of the Western Hemisphere. In 1836, Masonic philosophy would also serve as the intellec­ tual stimuli for the rebellion against Mexico, and the eventual establishment of the Republic of Texas. Unlike other medieval institutions in Europe, the Masonic transition was easily made to modem times because it adopted tenets which were important to contemporary societies. By 1717, European Freemasons adopted the Grand Lodge System, and had attracted political philosophers and other intellectuals into the institution. These important, but suhtle changes, also were incorporated within their colonial lodges. During the eighteenth century in Anglo-America, European conflicts placed more demands upon Anglo-American Masons for manpower, money, and material to support the wars. These demands combined with oppressive restrictions against European Freemasonry, which was incom­ patible with the theory of the divine right of kings, were perceived as harm­ ful to all mankind. Freemasons believed that all men had inalienable rights, governments should be subservient to the will of the people, governments must function independent from religious institutions, and governments should be empowered to protect human rights (individualism, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). Therefore, Anglo-Americans continued to turn to Freemasonry as a philosophic weapon against authoritarianism. It would be incorrect to conclude that Freemasonry solely was responsible for the American Revolution, but it would be an even greater mistake to conclude that it had no part in bringing it about. From 1776 to 1783. Freemasons represented approximately two-tenths of one percent of the Anglo-American population. From this minority, some representatlves of the wealthy, educated, and unfortunates of Anglo­ American society conspired to separate themselves from the "Modern" Grand Lodge of England. These Masons also appeared as active partici­ pants in revoluntary activities. They secretly planned rebellion, encouraged military recruits to join several military lodges formed during the war, ensured secrecy in the plans of military campaigns and the fidelity of their executions, were selected as members of political committees of correspon- Robert W. Kesting is an archivist with the u.s. Holocaust Menwrial Museum in Washington, D. C. EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCTATJON 21 dence, led propaganda campaigns which nurtured widespread anarchy, and fonned a Continental Congress in which thirty-one of fifty-six (55%) of its members were Freemasons. Some well-known Masons were Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph, Killiaen Van Rensselaer, Patrick Henry, Aaron Burr, Nathaniel Greene, Thomas Payne, Robert Morris, Anthony Wayne, James Otis, Alexander Hamilton, George Clinton, John Locke, Henry Knox, Richard Henry Lee, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, George Clinton, James Monroe, and James A. Wilkinson. Most became well-known leaders during the Early National Period. Meanwhile, some Masons orchestrated a political agenda which was synonymous with Masonic political philosophy. Moreover, Masonry in the United States was unified and strictly loyal to American democratic ideals. Probably, the war only hastened the growth and evolution of American Freemasonry, which became antagonistic toward aristocracies. Further­ more, the American frontier made it possible for Anglo-American Freemasons to solidly establish themselves on the principles of equality, toleration, and fraternal brotherhood free from the restrictions of class dis­ tinctions and privileges which prevailed in Europe. Washington allegedly stated, "Masonry and its lessons were helpful [to him] throughout the Revolution, both upon the battlefield and in the Legislative Assembly." After the war, some of the aforementioned Masons drafted the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. They implemented our Federal system based on a limited democracy. They also were elected or appointed to high-level civilian or military positions. I Some even mastenninded and s.elected other Masons. such as Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, John Hamilton Robinson, Zebulon Montgomery Pike, William Dunbar, George Hunter, Edward Turner, Richard Sparks, Walter Burling, and Daniel Hughes to lead secret quasi-military and military expeditions into disputed East Texas and other lands claimed by New Spain. 2 Other western Masons, such as Rufus Easton, Henry Clay, Joseph H. Daviess, Edward Livingston, Thomas Cushing, Charles Cole Claiborne, Isaac Shelby, Andrew Jackson, Stephen F. Austin, David G. Burnet, and Sam Houston brought with them valuable lessons learned from postwar frontier experiences. 3 Yet, Frontier-Masons and non-Masons, who settled in the trans­ Appalachian territories during the 1780s and 1790s, were subjected to European intrigues. lack of security from Indian attacks, political depravity, and seemingly economic ruin. European governments made some unsuc­ cessful attempts to reclaim western lands by recruiting loyalists, and even filibuster (adventurer)-Masons such as George Rogers Clarke. Some trans­ Appalachian Freemasons probably perceived that the brotherhood back East had abandoned them to the Indians, land speculators. the whims of European monarchs, and eventually a dictator. Some declared openly for separation. ParLicularly, they fcIt oppressed by the Spanish Crown, which 22 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIAnON contro]]ed the navigation of the Mississippi River. 4 But more importantly, American Freemasons probably began to formulate strategies in order to limit European domination of the Western Hemisphere. Frontier Masons as well as non-Masons differed on methods to solve the Spanish dilemma. Some agreed that Spain should be aggressively removed from the Mississippi River, the port of New Orleans, and the Floridas. Others believed in diplomatic and cautious approaches to elimi­ nate the Spanish presence. The Treaty of San Lorenzo in 1795 (also known as Pinckney's Treaty) temporarily halted plots to extricate Spain from the Louisiana Territory. 5 Ideally, the political program of American Freemasonry possibly called for the infusion of democracy, and the establishment of constitutional forms of government in the Western Hemisphere based on the American model. Jefferson summed up their political goal when he said that "[Cuba's and New Spain'sl interests and ours larel the same, and that the object of both must be to exclude all European influence from this [WesternJ Hemisphere."6 This, combined with their insatiable appetite for more lands and the perceived riches contained therein, caused some Masons to mix Pan­ Americanism and nationalism with self-aggrandizement. This infectious desire also spread to non-Masons. Some Masons masterminded covert fili­ buster, quasi-military, military expeditions, and diplomatic operations with the object of inciting rebellion within New Spain, or the forceful removal of an increasingly and seemingly weak Spanish Government which was stead­ fastly supported by the Roman Catholic Church. Initially, the Louisiana Territory, the Floridas. and the eastern Internal Provinces (Provincias Internas), which included East Texas, were targeted. j Perhaps the first glimpse of Freemason activity in the Louisiana Territory was from Don Luis Penalver, Bishop of Louisiana. In a letter from Minister Caballero to Minister Cornel dated in 1799, Penalver reported: ... emigration from the western part of America, and the tolerance of sec­ tarian~ have brought a mob of adventurers to the colony who know not God or religion ... In one of the suburbs of the city a [Freemason] lodge has been fonned in whieh are enrolled [Spanishl officers of the garrison, officers of the royal treasury, merchants, randJ countrymen both natives and foreigners ... '" those same adventurers have spread through the districts of Atacapas, Ope1usas, Ouachita. and Natchitoches ... they are furnishing their hunters and Indian~ with arms; they hold conversations and impress mischievous thoughts on their hearers rlistenersj ... They have a custom of patting their children on the shoulder
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